Bridging the social class gap: Experiences of working-class trainee clinical psychologists

The higher one’s social class status, the more likely one is to gain a place on the UK doctorate in clinical psychology (DClinPsy). Working-class trainees are a minority group in DClinPsy training and there are known detrimental impacts associated with being part of a minority group. The aim of this project was to capture the experiences of working-class trainee clinical psychologists when acculturating to UK DClinPsy training. Thematic analysis was used on the data collected from thirteen semi-structured interviews. A Bourdieusian and Yossosian framework and interactive acculturation model and social constructionist theoretic stance were adopted. There was a common trajectory that trainees described when acculturating to the profession (awareness of being different, shame and change, pride and embrace and integration of selves), one impacted by whether the respondents felt class was invisible (assumptions trainees are middle class, an unspoken social identity and unhelpful conversations) or visible (helpful conversations, being seen and represented) social identity during DClinPsy training. Leading to recommendations for DClinPsy courses to have clear structures that enable and facilitate helpful conversations about class. As well as ensuring support are structures available that can enrich trainees’ personal and professional identity development. Finally, having robust and transparent feedback channels allowing the course to adapt to meet working-class trainee’s needs.